Portable back rest for seats



July 16, 1929. F. A. BACKSTROM PORTABLE BACK REST FOR SEATS Filed April 18, 1928 Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,7213%, rarest orrics.

, FREDERICK A. BACKS'I'R-OM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE BACK REST FOR SEATS. I

Application filed April 18,

'-The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved back rest for seats; to provide improved means for detachably securing the-back rest to a seat; to provide a back rest which may be swung into and out of its operative position while the user thereof is seated on the seat to which it is applied; to provide a back rest which is collapsible so as to be adapted to occupy a small amount of space when not in use; and to provide a portable collapsible back rest of light and inexpensive construction having a small number of parts and which is rigid when set up. V

An illustrative embodimentof this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of an improved back rest applied to a seat, the dotted lines representing the back member in its inoperative position.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspectives of the separate members detached from each other and partly collapsed.

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations showing the separate members completely collapsed.

Portable back rests of the collapsible type heretofore in use generally included an auxiliary seat member attached to the back member and adapted to rest on top of the main seat to which the device was applied. Such auxiliary seat members made the devices cumbersome and not readily collapsible to a small form and, by being placed on top of the main seat, they frequently raised the occupant more than was desirable.

The aforementioned objectionable features of prior devices are overcome in the back rest embodying this invention, which includes a collapsible and 'foldable back member detachably secured to the main seat by a pair of brackets. The improved back rest may be applied to a large number of differenttypes of seats such as seats for row boats, picnic benches, wagons, etc.

In the form shown, the device is applied to a board seat 1.

In the construction illustrated, the device comprises a pair of separate members 2 and 3, each of which includes a supporting bracket 4, a side rail 5, diagonal brace 6 and latch bar 7 preferably made of flat metal bands which may be bent to the desired shape and which are of sufficient strength to give the device the desired rigidity when set up.

1928. Serial No. 271,013.

Each of the brackets 4c is twisted so that the end portions thereof are disposed substantially at right angles to each other to permit the rear portion 8 to be supported on edge and the front portion 9 thereof to lie flat onthe seat 1. The front portions 9 are bent to provide hooks 10 adapted to slidably embrace the seat 1 for detachably securing the device to the seat. The hook portions 10 are slightly yieldable so as to accommodate seats which vary somewhat in thickness.

The side rails 5 are hinged on the bracket portions 8 by pins 11 and the outer ends thereof are twisted so as to provide bearing portions 12 to which the diagonal braces 6 are pivotally secured by abolt 18 and a rivet 14: respectively.

Mounted on the lower end of each of the braces 6, is a spring clip 15 adapted to embrace the lower end of the opposite rail 5.

Pivotally mounted on the rivet 1 1, is a cross brace 16, having a notch 17 at its free end for engagement with the shank of the bolt 13. The bolt 18 has threaded engagement with the rail 5 of the member 2 and is provided with a wing 18 to permit the brace 16 to be readily attached to the member 2 and detached therefrom.

The latch bars 7 are pivotally connected to the brackets 1 by pins 19 and are provided with notches 20 adapted to engage pins 21 mounted on offset portions 22 formed in the lower ends of the rails 5. v

In operation, to set up the improved device, the free end of the cross brace 16 is secured to the bolt- 13, and the clips 15 on the lower ends of the diagonal braces 6 are secured to the lower ends of the side rails 5.

The brackets 4: are then attached to the seat 1, as shown in Fig. 1, and the latch bars 7 are swung into engagement with the pins 21.

When it is desired to shift the back to an inoperative position, while the user remains seated, the latch bars 7 are released to permit the back member to drop rearwardly to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

This improved back rest is particularly useful for fishermen in rowboats. While the fisherman is casting, the back rest gives considerable comfort but a back rest is not generally desired by one who is rowing. With this improved device, the back rest may be readily shifted into and out of its operative position by the user while he remains seated.

WVhen the back rest is not in use, the parts may be collapsed to the convenient form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the entire device may be packed in a small carrying case.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it Will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

In a collapsible back rest, a pair of brackets comprising flat metal strips, said strips being twist-ed intermediate their ends for forming forward horizontal sections and rearward vertical sections, a clip on each forward horizontal section comprising downwardly and rearwardly bent portions for engaging over the edge of a seat, a side mem ber hinged at one end to each of said vertical sections comprising an outwardly offsetintermediate portion, the other end portions of said side members being twisted for providing outer end sections substantially perpendicular to the remainder of said side members, a latch pivotally mounted on each vertical section of said brackets engageable with said side members for retaining them in a predetermined position, diagonal braces pivotally mounted at one end on the outer end sections of each side member, a clip on the other end of each of said braces engagea'ble on the side members between the pivoted ends thereof and the intermediate offset p0rtions thereof, a cross brace pivoted on the outer end section of one of said side members adapted at its free end to be secured to the outer end of the other side member, and a single clamping means on the latter side member coacting with said cross member for securing the brackets and side members of respective sides of the device in a fixed spaced relation. Signed at Chicago this 16th day of. April.

FREDERICK A. BACKSTROM. 

